A man urinated on the Altar of Confession at Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Basilica during morning Holy Mass, stunning hundreds of worshippers. Security sprinted up the steps to escort the unidentified man out as he pulled up his pants. The Vatican has yet to comment on Friday’s incident, and authorities have not said if the man was arrested or charged. The Altar of Confession, which is positioned directly below Michelangelo’s dome, is a sacred Catholic spot where the pope celebrates major masses and Pope Francis’s body was laid for public viewing. A clip of the incident went viral on X, with shocked commentators calling the act “vile” and “absolutely shocking and deeply disrespectful.” Others questioned the lack of security, which has been an issue in the past. In February, a man climbed the altar and knocked over six candelabras. In June 2023, a naked Polish man jumped onto the altar with “Save children of Ukraine” written on his back. After that incident, canon law required the Vatican to hold a penitential rite to cleanse the grounds.
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